Assembly for lights

ABSTRACT

An assembly for hiding or exposing lights can be readily mounted around a building, forming an integral part thereof. This assembly comprises a channel base fitted with a cover and having a plurality of openings to allow light bulbs to swing in and out. The bulbs are attached to sockets which are, in turn, mounted on swivel bases secured to the channel base. The swivel bases are connected to a pulley assembly which operates to swing the bases through the openings.

United States Patent l 13,569,691

[ Inventor Robe" -F Y 3,070,687 12/1962 Marchant 240/71 Longvww Freedom, 3,107,865 10/1963 116516116. 240/7.1 07970 3,116,026 12/1963 Gupta 240/61.4(X) 1 PP 746,923 3,189,737 6/1965 Lawless... 240/61.4(X) 1 P1169 y 23, 1968 3,204,090 8/ 1965 Kvarda 240/10 1 Patented Mar-9,1971 3,275,818 9/1966 Campbell 240/10 3,361,901 l/1968 Mesler 240/7.1 [54] ASSEMBLY FOR LIGHTS Primary ExaminerSamuel S. Matthews 3 Claims, 6 Drawing Figs. Assistant ExaminerMichael Harris 52 vs. C: 240/10, 97

240/614 [51] Int. Cl F21p 1/02 [50] Field of 24O/7-1 ABSTRACT: An assembly for hiding or exposing lights can be (H), readily mounted around a building, forming an integral part 56 R re e Cited thereof. This assembly comprises a channel base fitted with a 1 8 mm 5 cover and having a plurality of openings to allow light bulbs to UNITED STATES PATENTS swing in and out. The bulbs are attached to sockets which are, 1,723,850 8/1929 Gillies 240/61.4 in turn, mounted on swivel bases secured to the channel base. 2,331,973 10/1943 Grose..... 240/7.1 The swivel bases are connected to a pulley assembly which 2,5 57,872 6/1951 Holland 240/7.1(X) operates to swing the base's through the openings.

is T 10 ASSEMBLY FOR LIGHTS The present invention relates to an assembly for lights; and more particularly, the present invention relates to an assembly for hiding and exposing light bulbs which can be mounted around a structure to form an integral, permanent part thereof.

It has been found desirable during many occasions, such as Christmas or special sales days to decorate dwellings or stores by hanging decorative lights around the structures to achieve a holiday spirit or to attract attention of prospective buyers. At present, these lights are hung by attaching them individually to electrical outlets fitted around the periphery of the building to be decorated. Alternatively, lights are strung together by means of suitable electrical wiring and the wiring in turn is connected to a suitable electrical outlet. There are many inherent disadvantages associated with such practices. One of the major disadvantages resides in the fact that the lights have to be mounted and secured in their respective places every holiday season and removed when the season is over. Such a practice is obviously very cumbersome and presents serious installation problems, for example, ascending and descending a ladder, especially during the cold winter months. Furthermore, the exposed electrical wiring and sockets often cause electrical short circuits which are obviously undesirable from a safety point of view. Additionally, loose wiring or naked sockets add nothing to the aesthetics of the house. Many attempts have been made to combat these drawbacks. For example, U.S. Pat. No, 3,204,090, discloses a unit which eliminates some hazards, but the lights are still not exposed and hidden easily.

Accordingly, a primary object of this invention is to provide an assemblyin which lights can be hidden and exposed at ease and which can be adapted to form a permanent and integral part ofa building.

Yet, another object of this invention is to provide an assembly for lights which can readily exposed and hidden without actually rewiring the lights.

Yet a further object of this invention is to provide an assembly for lights which can be readily exposed or hidden and which is protected from weather and electrical hazards.

Other objects and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description and from the accompanying drawings. In'the drawings:

, FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing the assembly with the light bulbs hidden.

FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken in the direction 2-2 of FIG. 1 showing the lights hidden in the channel base.

FIG. 3 is an exploded view showing a light bulb in an exposed position.

FIG. 4 is a detailed view showing the lights in the exposed v position and making electrical contacts.

FIG. 5 is an exploded fragmentary view showing a light mounted in an exposed position and making electrical contacts.

FIG. 6 is a view taken along the line 6-6 of FIG. 5 showing electrical contacts in operative position.

Like numerals indicate like parts throughout the several views in the drawings.

The light assembly of this invention .in its several elements comprises a channel base or housing indicated by reference numeral 10 and a removable cover 11. A plurality of openings indicated by the reference numeral 12 are spaced along the wall of base 10. Each of openings 12 receives-a cover, indicated by reference numeral 13. Cover 13 is located on the exterior side of channel wall 10 and jointed to the channel wall by a hinge arrangement which facilitates its opening and closing. The cover 13 is held in a closed position by spring 14 which will yield against pressure from within channel 10 to expose opening 12 as shown in FIG. 3.

In the base of channel 10 a plurality of light mounts 16 are provided for holding sockets 17 whereby light bulbs 18 may be channel base 10 by means 0 attached thereto. Each of the li ht mounts 16 is secured to the a swivel arrangement 19 as shownin FIG. 2. Each of the light mounts 16 is sopositioned that with socket 17 and bulb 18 in place, it can rotate about 90 through opening 12 as shown in FIG. 4.

The rotation of light mount 16 is effected by a pulley arrangement 20.

The pulley arrangement 20 comprises a series of pulleys mounted in the channel base 10 as best illustrated in FIG. 2 and 4. In the event one light is involved, two pulleys are needed. The pulleys are shown arranged so that rope 21 loops around the tip of light mount 16. The pulleys are operated by means of a crank 22, or any other suitable power means. The

pulley arrangement 20 is such that when the crank operates in one direction, the tension on rope 21 thus produced will swing base 16 together with light bulb 18, against cover 13 to expose lights 18. Conversely, when the pulley is cranked in the opposite directionthe tension thus produced on rope 21 will cause base 16 to swing inward into the channel 10 thereby hiding the lights.

In the channel base 10 there is provided wiring base 23 having protruding electrical wiring contacts 24. The electrical wiring base 23 is so mounted on the base 10 that when pulley 10 is in an exposed position contacts 24 will make contact with light mount base 16 completing an electric circuit and providing the necessary current to energize the bulbs 18. Each of the wiring base 23 are electrically connected in series with the succeeding base by means of an electric conductor 25.

In use, one unit or a series of such units can be mounted as a trimming of a building (not shown) with cranks 22 in a readily accessible position. Electrical current is supplied to base 23 through conductor 25 by means of a master switch (not shown in the drawings). When it is desired to light the building the crank is cranked in a clockwise direction thereby producing the necessary tension to rotate light mount 16 which in turn presses against cover 13 to expose light 18. Light mount 16 makes contact with contacts 24 on wiring base 23 completing the circuit and providing the current for illumination.

The channel l0may be formed of any rigid sheet material, for example, aluminum or plastic material.

It is understood that the foregoing detailed description is given merely by way of illustration and that many variations may be made therein without departing from the spirit of my invention.

Iclaimz' 1. An assembly for hiding and exposing bulbs comprising:

a. an .elongated housing having a removable cover;

b. at least one opening along the wall of said housing;

c. at least one light bulb assembly rotatably mounted opposite said opening;

d. a pulley assembly operatively connected with said light bulb assembly to provide energy for exposing said hiding said assembly through said opening; and

e. an electric assembly electrically associated for providing current to said light assembly while said light assembly is in the exposed position comprising a first electrical conductive means on said light bulb assembly and a second electrical conductive means mounted in such a location on said housing that rotating the light bulb assembly into an exposed position through said opening causes the two conductive means to contact each other and close the circuit and that rotating the light bulb assembly into a hidden position back through said opening will open said circuit.

2. An assembly for light according to claim 1 wherein said opening is provided with a cover, said cover being held in place by a hinge arrangement which will yield against internal pressure from said light assembly when said light assembly is being rotated to an exposed position.

3. An assembly for lights according to claim 2 wherein said pulley assembly is provided with power means to operate said pulley assembly. 

1. An assembly for hiding and exposing bulbs comprising: a. an elongated housing having a removable cover; b. at least one opening along the wall of said housing; c. at least one light bulb assembly rotatably mounted opposite said opening; d. a pulley assembly operatively connected with said light bulb assembly to provide energy for exposing said hiding said assembly through said Opening; and e. an electric assembly electrically associated for providing current to said light assembly while said light assembly is in the exposed position comprising a first electrical conductive means on said light bulb assembly and a second electrical conductive means mounted in such a location on said housing that rotating the light bulb assembly into an exposed position through said opening causes the two conductive means to contact each other and close the circuit and that rotating the light bulb assembly into a hidden position back through said opening will open said circuit.
 2. An assembly for light according to claim 1 wherein said opening is provided with a cover, said cover being held in place by a hinge arrangement which will yield against internal pressure from said light assembly when said light assembly is being rotated to an exposed position.
 3. An assembly for lights according to claim 2 wherein said pulley assembly is provided with power means to operate said pulley assembly. 